As somebody who went to a trade school and can't seem to find a company who will hire me without experience, I'm really curious to hear how you guys got your start in HVAC. Some stories should help inspire us trying to enter the field that it can be done as a newbie. Did you go to school for it or start out as a helper or installer or something? How did you hear about the job opening? It's almost like you have to be a family member to get your foot in the door the way I feel right now. So tell us your stories...How did you get your foot in the door?

02-03-2012, 04:20 PM

keeplearnin

helper, parts runner, but what you really need is some mechanical inclination. What kind of exp. do you have breaking and fixing things.

02-03-2012, 04:21 PM

supertek65

i was an auto mechanic and the shop burnt!

i had no tools left after the fire so i got a job installing water heaters and furnaces.

then boilers and chillers!

02-03-2012, 04:22 PM

supertek65

do you want a list?:whistle:

Quote:

Originally Posted by keeplearnin

helper, parts runner, but what you really need is some mechanical inclination. What kind of exp. do you have breaking and fixing things.

02-03-2012, 04:44 PM

jpsmith1cm

Quote:

Originally Posted by supertek65

do you want a list?:whistle:

You kept a list??

Heck, I'd have run out of paper.

02-03-2012, 05:51 PM

freonrick

I went to 2 years of vo-tech for hvac while I was in high school. During spring break I went job hunting and had a job lined out when school was out. 2 weeks riding with someone I was put out in a van solo. The vo-tech was in Nevada Mo and my job was in Wichita when I got out. You will need to sell yourself since you do not have experience.

02-03-2012, 06:18 PM

kamersoutdoor

Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired

:whistle:

02-03-2012, 06:21 PM

supertek65

Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired
Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired
Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired
Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired
Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired
Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired
Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired
Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired
Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>get good job!

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamersoutdoor

Lie, learn as much as you can until they figure out you know nothing......Repeat as desired

:whistle:

02-03-2012, 06:27 PM

supertek65

i was finishing cement in Georgia when I got out of the ARMY!
we were doing a runway and it was like 108 degrees out.

foreman yells out "ANYBODY KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A 13 SPEED ALLISON TRANSMISSION?"

Ofcourse I never had but it was hot!
I said " I DO!"

he took me to the batch plant gave me a hard hat and siad get in!
20 yard cement truck! OOH BIG TRUCK!!!!!!!!!!

he gets in, I start it figure out the parking/air brakes. Back it under the batch plant, get loaded up and put her in first gear, hit the clutch to go to second gear and he says "STOP!"
"YOU HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A 13 SPEED BEFORE HAVE YOU?"
"no,i lied!"
"if you can figure it out by the time we get back to the batch plant? you can have the job!"

02-03-2012, 06:33 PM

hurtinhvac

Had strikes against me given my age and the fact that I spent 25 years behind a desk. So I made damn sure I wasn't ever late to the trade school I attended, much less miss a day; and studied my azz off - graduating with a 98 overall. So when a prospective employer called for an extra body to make wraps, slips and drives, deliver equipment and haul the old away, clean and checks, dirty work etc...the coordinator at the school could at least say I was dedicated.

Now I have one cooling season under my belt and most of a heating season, run solo and take home the truck. A certificate and a good attitude can get you in the door - the attitude being the harder challenge.

The beginning of cooling season might be better for you as more bodies are genrally needed then...

02-03-2012, 06:37 PM

supertek65

GOOD JOB!:yes:

Quote:

Originally Posted by hurtinhvac

Had strikes against me given my age and the fact that I spent 25 years behind a desk. So I made damn sure I wasn't ever late to the trade school I attended, much less miss a day; and studied my azz off - graduating with a 98 overall. So when a prospective employer called for an extra body to make wraps, slips and drives, deliver equipment and haul the old away, clean and checks, dirty work etc...the coordinator at the school could at least say I was dedicated.

Now I have one cooling season under my belt and most of a heating season, run solo and take home the truck. A certificate and a good attitude can get you in the door - the attitude being the harder challenge.

The beginning of cooling season might be better for you as more bodies are genrally needed then...

02-03-2012, 07:02 PM

hurtinhvac

Quote:

Originally Posted by supertek65

GOOD JOB!:yes:

Thank you.

I am now qualified to explain to you in great detail how little I really know. Admitting it is the first step.